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A lot of the scam warnings I've found about Thailand seem very old (for example, jet ski rentals or fake gem scams), and it's not always clear what actually still happens versus what just gets repeated online.

For people who have been to Thailand recently, what scams should travelers realistically be aware of?

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    Not really a 'scam', in sense of being illegal, but the fees at Thai ATMs are pretty high by international standards, like ~$7 USD regardless of transaction size, and then your own bank will probably ding you on top of that. Commented Jan 7 at 13:50
  • I just spend two weeks in Thailand and found people by and large to be exceptionally honest, friendly and helpful. Of course, its not entirely scam free and you may run into something especially at the tourist hotspots but the risk in Thailand feels lower to me than in almost any other country, so I wouldn't worry about it too much. Commented Jan 7 at 16:32

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Anyone paying attention to the news over the past couple of years has probably heard about the online "scam centers" based in Myanmar and Cambodia targeting countries all over the world. What many people don't know is that some Thai politicians and Thai Immigration police were involved in those networks, as exposed by Reuters.

The reality is that this entire region is currently being infiltrated by Chinese triads and transnational organized crime groups, and their focus is largely online. From selling fake motorbikes on Facebook groups to running fake hotel booking and e-Visa websites, we have moved past the age of crude "broken jet ski" scams; these groups are powerful and extremely sophisticated.

That said, there are still many common street-level scams targeting tourists specifically:

  • Motorbike and jet ski rental shops blaming you for damage you didn't cause.
  • Scam artists outside tourist attractions telling you the site is closed and offering you a tour, where they scam you further at commission shops.
  • Taxis and tuk-tuks overcharging you or taking you to places you didn't ask to go to earn commissions.
  • Suit tailors (often from Nepal) selling you expensive outfits but using cheap fabrics.
  • Shops and restaurants in tourist areas giving you the wrong change on your bill.
  • Beer bars or nightlife venues handing you an inflated bill and assaulting you if you refuse to pay, or getting their police "friends" to threaten you with arrest.
  • Immigration officers making up new rules on the spot and demanding bribes at checkpoints (this happens mostly at land borders and targets Southeast Asian travelers more often than Westerners).

A large percentage of scams in Thailand involve transportation and nightlife areas. If you use ride-hailing apps like Grab and exercise caution in nightlife venues, you will likely avoid most common scams.

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    While these scams are common in Thailand they are also common in almost all other tourist hotspots. Car rentals rather that scooter rentals but claims for preexisting damage. Commented Jan 7 at 11:13
  • Thanks, this helps! Sounds like avoiding taxis or tuk-tuks unless really necessary is still a good idea. Commented Jan 8 at 15:25
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I've been in Thailand fairly recently, and a lot of the scary scam warnings you see online feel pretty outdated. Most travellers never run into anything serious. The stuff that does still happen is usually low-key and easy to avoid.

The most common things are taxi or tuk-tuk drivers not using the meter, or offering a "cheap tour" that turns into stops at gem shops or tailors. Around big sights in Bangkok, you'll still occasionally hear the "temple is closed today" line, it's basically never true.

At beach destinations, jet ski or motorbike rentals can be an issue if you don't check the vehicle first. Take a quick video when you pick it up and you'll be fine. Tailors and gem shops aren't automatically scams, but hard sell or "special government promotion" stories are a good sign to walk away.

In nightlife areas, just watch for inflated drink bills or surprise charges, nothing unique to Thailand, really.

The more dramatic stuff you read about (fake police, airport cons, etc.) is pretty rare these days. Overall, Thailand is very tourist-friendly. If you ignore unsolicited offers and use common sense, chances are you won't experience any scams at all.

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